CS 71 
.R52 
1903 
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Class _(LlZl— 
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SUPPLEMENT. 



lltct)artison ^nceotr^i. 



WATKINS. 




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A VIEW OF WEST MILL. HERTS. 




ST MARY'S CHURCH, WEST MILL, HERTS. 




ST. MARY'S CHURCH, STANDON HERTS. 



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THE RICHARDSONS ^j-i- 



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OF 



WEST MILL, HERTS, ENGLAND, 



AND 



WOBURN IN NEW ENGLAND. 



WALTER KENDALL WATKINS. 



BOSTON 
1903. 



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FReprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1903.] 

/: 



PRESS OF David Clapp & Son. 






SOME EARLY EMIGRANTS FROM HERTS, ENGLAND. 



'- As early as 1628, religious disturbances were frequent in the county of 
Herts. The feeling is plainly shown in the incident of affixing, on the 
church door at Hemel Hampstead, a place seven miles west of St. Albans, 
the letter against forms of worship, etc., mentioned in the Register, ante, 
Vol. 55, page 298. 

In 1627, Charles Chauncey, afterwards President of Harvard College, 
became Vicar of Ware, twelve miles east of St. Albans, where he was soon 
involved with the authorities by his preachings, and was charged by 
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, 10 Apr., 1630, with " omission of the 
Athanasius Creed, the Lesson from the Old Testament, the Litany, the 
surplice, the cross in Baptism and the Exhortation in Matrimony." 

His speeches were in praise of the Puritans, and disparagement of the 
church's authority ; in anticipation of changes between church and state, and 
of his assertions " that some families were preparing to go to New England." 

Chauncey made answer to his accusers, and proceedings were stopped 
till 23 June, 1634, when he was again summoned — having been for a year 
or more at Marston St. Lawrence, Northamptonshire — and his trial before 
the High Commission was continued. 

At Lambeth Palace, 19 Nov., 1635, he was found guilty of opposing the 
setting up of a rail, with a kneeling bench affixed, about the communion 
table in the church at Ware, where he had returned to preach. He pleaded 
that there was a rail at Marston St. Lawrence, and some twenty church- 
wardens and parishoners testified to this fact ; besides, seven clergymen 
witnessed to his being a diligent student of theology. Several of the clergy 
complained of his mode of preaching and administering the communion, 
also that strangers from other parishes frequented his Sunday afternoon 
meetings at Marston. 

11 Feb., 1635-6, he made his submisssion, in regard to his visit to Ware, 
to the High Court. Under date of 12 June, 1637, Dr. Samuel Clark wrote 
of him, to Sir John Lamb, an official of the Archdeacon of Buckingham, 
" Mr. Chauncey, whom you lately corrected in the High Commission, mends 
like sour ale in summer. He held a fast on Wednesday last, and, as I am 
informed, he with another preached some six or eight hours. The whole 
tribe of God flocked thither, some threescore from Northampton ; the Lord 
Say with his lady, honored them with their presence. The end was, as I 
am told, to join in prayer that God would deliver his servants from perse- 
cution." This prayer was answered in the case of Chauncey, and many 
others, by tlieir emigration to New England in the winter of 1637. 

We have alluded to the religious excitement at Hemel Hampstead, and 
the probability that Rev. Robert Fordham was responsible for giving the 
town of Hempstead, Long Island, its name, and applying the name oj 



Littleworth, which is a villasje two miles from Bedford, Herts, to a locality 
on Long Island, sitnated, as 1 am inform ed by Mr. William Wallace Tooker, 
the local authority, between Water Mill Post office and Southampton Vil- 
lage. Littleworth was frequently mentioned in old records, but is now 
seldom heard. 

It was at Sacomb, four miles north-west from Ware, that Philip Ford- 
ham, father of Rev. Robert Fordham, lived. The latter was born in 1603, 
was admitted to Cains College, Cambridge, 3 July, 1622, at the age of 
nineteen, matriculated 1623, and received his degree of B.A. in 1625, and 
M.A. in 1629. It is likely that Robert Fordham was active in the religious 
excitement attendant on the incident at Hemel Hampstead in 1628, and the 
events in which Chauncey was prominent in Herts, as it was not till 1640 
that he came to New England, and was at Sudbury. (See Register, 
Vol. 2, p. 163.) 

Religious persecution was not the only factor in driving the people of 
Herts to other jiarts. It was necessary, in 1632 and succeeding years, for 
the justices of the peace for the county to take measures for the relief of 
the poor, the country being over-populated, and it was with difficulty that 
the poor obtained employment and food. 

It was, however, the ship money tax, first designed in June, 1634, and 
to which I have alluded in other communications to the Register, that in 
the succeeding four years was a cause for the emigration to New England 
of many of the people in Herts. 

In 1637 it was reported by the tax collector that Thomas Welsh, of Bish- 
op Stortford, had gone to New England. The town is about ten miles 
east of Ware, and AVelsh appeared at Milford, Conn., in 1639. 

Richard Miles, of Wormley, was reported as " gone into New England." 
He appeared in Milford in 1639. Wormley is six miles south of Ware. 

William Fowler of Powlett, Stevenage, was taxed for his lands in Pot- 
ter's Fields, and to avoid the tax he fled, and was in Milford in 1639. 
Stevenage is ten miles north-west of Ware, and seven miles from Sacomb. 
Edmund Tapps, of Bennington, went to New England, and appeared 
with the others at Milford in 1639. Bennington is eight miles north-west 
of v\ are. 

From Royston, sixteen miles north of Ware, Richard Parker went to 
New England, and one of the name appears in Boston in 1638. 

Eight miles north of Ware is West Mill, a parish with a station on a 
branch railway terminating at Buntingford. 

Francis Wyman, of AVest Mill, made his will, 15 Sept., 1658, which wag 
proved 14 Feb., following. In it he left bequests to his two sons, Francis 
and .lohn Wyman, " which are beyond the seas." (See Register, Vol. 43, 
p. 56.) The sons were in AYoburn in 1640. A reference to the parish 
register of West Mill, which begins with baptisms in 1550, marriages iu 
1562, and burials in 1565, gives the following items: 

1617," Francis Wimant and Elizabeth Rielianlson wuare niaried 1 " May." 
Baptized in 1618, "Thomas y*" soune of Francis Wyniant 5 AiJrilis." 
1619, " Francis ye sonn of Francis Wymant Bapt 24 of Feb^" 
1621, "John Ihr sonui; of Frnncis AViuiant ]m]ttisi'd PVl). 3." 
1623[4], " Richard the sorine of Fr.uicis Wymant baptised 14"' of March." 
1626, " EliziilK'th y*" daughter of Francis Wyniant baj.t ]\Iar. 26." 
1628, "William tlie sonne of Francis Wymant was Bapt the 31*'' of Aug." 
1630, " Elizabeth y« wife of Francis Wymant buryed June y*' 22." 
1630, " AVilliam, the sonne of Francis AW'inaut buryed July the xviii." 



Of Richardson items in the records, there are : 

Thomas Richardson of Standon and Katherine Duxford of West mill 
were married 24 Aug. 1590. 

Elizabeth y^ daughter to Thomas Richardson baptized 13 Jan. 1593. 
John son to Thomas Richardson baptized 7 Nov. 1596. 
James, y'' sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 6 Apr. 1600. 
Samuel y® sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 22 Dec. 1602 [or 1604], 
Margaret ye daughter of Thomas Richardson baptized 19 April 1607. 
Thomas ye sonne of Thomas Richardson baptized 3 July 1608. 

Catherine the wife of Thomas Richardson buryed the x*** of March 1631. 
Thomas Richardson was bui*yed the viii daye of January 1633. 

It would naturally be supposed that the will of Thomas Richardson would 
be found in the Commissary Court of Essex and Hertfordshire, but the 
Archdeaconry Court of Huntingdon, or that portion in the Hitchin Reg- 
istry, had jurisdiction over part of Hertfordshire, and included 77 parishes. 

The original will of Thomas Richardson of West Mill, Herts, found at 
Hitchin, reads : . 

March the 4'^'^ Ano domini 1630. In the name of God Amen I Thomas ) 

Richardson of Westmill in the County of Herts, husbandman, being sick / 

in bodye but of good an perfect memory thanks be to God doe make and 
ordeyne this my laste will in manner and forme following, firste. I bequeath 
my soull unto the hands of God my maker and Redeemer by whose merits 
I only truste to be saved, and my body to be buryed in the i^lace of Chris- 
tian buryall and Touchinge my temporall goods I doe dispose of them as 
followeth. 

First. I gyve unto Katherine my wife duringe the tearme of her natu- 
rall life my littell close of pastm-e called little hunnymeade cont half an 
acre and after her decease I give the same to my sonn Samuell and his 
heyers for ever. 

Item. I give to my sonn John forty^ shillings to be payed to him within 
the space of three yeares next ensueing the decease of me and Katherine 
my now wife by my executor. 

Item. I give to my sonn James Twelve pence. 

Item. I give to my sonn Thomas three pounds to be payed to him with- 
in the space of fyve yeares next ensueing the decease of me and Kathy- 
rine my now wife. 

Item. I gyve unto Katherine my wife all my movable goods to use for 
and during the terme of her life and after her decease I gyve the same 
unto my sonn Samuel whom I doe ordeyne and make my sole executor. 
In Witness whereof I have sett my hand and Seal the daye and yeare 
above sayd. 

Sealed and declared vSig™ Thomas 

in the presence of us [mark] Richardson 

Richard Baker. 

Philip Baker, 
proved 31 July 1634 at Hitchin presented by son Samuel Richardson." 

The three brothers, Ezekiel, Samuel and Thomas Richardson, are known 
as such by the will of Ezekiel, who names the other two as his brothers. 

Ezekiel, evidently the oldest, was the first to come to New England, and 
was a planter in Charlestown in 1630. His departure previous to the 
making of the will, perhaps against his father's wishes, or possibly having 
received his share of his father's small estate, maj' account for the name of 



Ezekiel not appearing in the will. His baptism is not found at "West 
Mill, as are the baptisms of Samuel and Thomas. 

Ezekiel probably came with Winthrop, he and his wife becoming mem- 
bers of the Charlestown church, 27 Aug., 1630. 

Thomas Richardson, baptized at West mill, 3 July, 1608, had wife Mary, 
who joined the Charlestown church, 21 Feb., 1635-6, and he joined, 18 
Feb., 1637-8. 

Samuel presented the will of his father for probate ^t Ilitchin, England, 
31 July, 1634. He had previously married ; and had baptized, at West 
Mill, a son Samuel, 3 July, 1633, and a daughter Elizabeth, 22 May, 1635. 

Samuel Richardson's name does not appear in the Tithe Book of West 
Mill after 1635. Against Over Green, where he (and also his father, 
Thomas) lived, is written " none." It was, therefore, after that date he 
and his brother Thomas sailed for New England, with their families ; and 
we find, on 1 July, 1636, the brothers were on a committee to lay out lots 
of land in Charlestown, for hay. There is no record of the birth or bap- 
tism of a daughter Elizabeth to Samuel in Woburn, but the will of his 
wife Joanna, in 1666, mentions a daughter Elizabeth, who was probably 
the one baptized at West Mill, 22 May, 1635. 

Doubtless the register of the parish of Standon, which is but a few 
miles south of West Mill, would, if it existed, give further particulars of 
the Richardsons, or at least of Thomas who married in 1590 ; but the ear- 
liest entry to be found is 1671. Braughing, just east of West Mill, has 
a register which begins in 1563, but it gives no items of the Richardson 
name. Great and Little Hormead, north-east of West Mill, was the 
home of some of the Wymans in the past, but there are no traces of 
the Richardsons there. Just east of this locality is the border of Essex, 
and there are many of the name in that county, though the name is com- 
mon in aU the counties of England. From Nazing, Essex, about ten miles 
from West Mill, came John Eliot, the apostle, and many of the settlers of 
Roxbury, Mass. 



